Track Listing

1. Country Boy
2. That's What You Think
3. Have You Ever Loved a Woman
4. You've Got to Love Her With a Feeling
5. Hide Away
6. I Love the Woman
7. San-Ho-Zay
8. See See Baby
9. Sen-Sa-Shun
10. Lonesome Whistle Blues
11. Stumble
12. It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough)
13. In the Open
14. I'm Tore Down
15. High Rise
16. Someday After Awhile (You'll Be Sorry)
17. Remington Ride
18. My Feeling for the Blues
19. Palace of the King
20. Going Down

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80878 in Music
• Released on: 1993-11-16
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Freddie King is a legend for some very good reasons. First, his clean single-string solos virtually define the modern Texas blues sound (although King himself honed his chops in Chicago). His playing was electric and country, skillful yet simple. Second, he had an uncanny knack for melodic invention. You can listen to a Freddie King solo once and whistle it the rest of the day. Last but not least, he was a remarkably expressive singer, soaring to a falsetto even more powerful than that of B.B. King. All this brilliance is here in one tidy package. You'll get the impassioned soul of "Have You Ever Loved a Woman." You'll get rumbling classics like "I'm Tore Down" and "Going Down." And best of all, you'll take your baby steps toward arena blues stardom listening to instrumentals like "San-Ho-Zay," "The Stumble," and "In the Open"--the songs that made Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan bequeath their souls to the unholy guitar. But bear in mind, if all those guitar heroes were so influenced by Freddie King, why is it that they don't sound anywhere near as great as him? Find out for yourself. And remember, the highest pitched string is the one closest to the floor. --Ken Hohman

Customer Reviews

A rare gem among "best of" albums
I usually don't go for "greatest hits" or "best of" albums but this one really knocked my socks off. You get a whopping 20 tracks - not just Freddie's super famous hits but also some nice surprises - and every song is so damn good. What's amazing about Freddie is the incredible variety of sounds and blues styles he is able to get out of his guitar - there is something different and unique about every song. As usual, Freddie's vocals are incredible and his bends will blow you away. Freddie is so refreshing because of the incredible energy he brings to every song - even the slow ones.

Freddie King is absolute required listening for Blues fans of any stripe. If you have not heard Freddie much, this album would be a great introduction to the man Clapton once said was the guitarist who most influenced him. You really should buy as many of his albums as you can get your hands on, but if you have to settle for one, this one will more than suffice.

Where Clapton And Many Others Came From
Jimmie Vaughn, once a Fabulous Thunderbird, called Freddie King "a gunslinger." Meaning that he'd take anybody on, on any terms, and come out on top. That's probably why Vaughn, Clapton, and most straightforwardly Peter Green (from the original Fleetwood Mac) chose Freddy as a model for their guitar work. If you're looking for the highest expression of Texas blues guitar, you have to include this recording in your search. (And if you're really into it, you better pick up some Albert Collins and T. Bone Walker, too...)

FREDDIE KING WILL MAKE YOU CRY!
This is truly a master at work. Freddie can play....and his powerful singing will make you believe in the BLUES. Hide Away: The Best of Freddie King is a compilation of Freddie's earlier hits. You would buy this CD for just the last song alone -- entitled "I'm Going Down! "....not to mention others like "Palace of the King, I'm Tore Down and Lonsome Whistle Blues! "

This CD is for the Blues Lover! Freddie is probably the best blues artist that ever lived. I would also highly recommend "Burglar", Texas Cannonball" and "Live at the Electric Ballroom!" These are all 5 stars!